Once you know how much food, toiletries or household supplies usually cost, it's easy to tell if you are overspending. It's good practice to create a "lowest price" list, and Living Well Spending Less has a cheat sheet to get you started.

The Rock Bottom Price List comes in two avatars: before coupons and after coupons. If you use them, coupons can have major savings. Print the PDF and carry it with you the next time you go shopping, so you can quickly compare prices. Now, prices will naturally vary based on region or time, but these should give you a rough idea if you are spending far more than you should.

Importantly, this price list is only a starting point. The blog post recommends creating your own sheet, based on your needs:

Use the cheat sheet and add items to it that you use regularly. Alternately, create a custom sheet of your own, but it helps to organize it by categories like meat, dairy, toiletries, etc.

Track prices in your own area for a couple of weeks. Go to different stores just to be sure. If you find a lower price, add it to the list.

Use the dates that the price was lowest to understand patterns, and stockpile the item at that time.

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We've covered this in more detail in creating your own price book, which also shows how to do it on paper or digitally. Remember to buy stuff based on your needs; don't just stockpile it because it's cheapest at the time.